Gulyas has set standard for Lehigh Valley receivers

Before he wore a Central Catholic football uniform, Kevin Gulyas watched his older brother Scott enjoy a breakout senior season in 2007. One of the leading receivers in the Lehigh Valley Conference that year, Scott came close to grabbing a school record during a season in which the Vikings qualified for the District 11 playoffs for the first time since 1998.

"We thought that was the biggest thing ever," Kevin recalled.

Four years later, Kevin Gulyas has set the standard for Lehigh Valley wide receivers. He just may claim a spot in state history next.

With fourth-seeded Central Catholic set to face No. 1 East Stroudsburg North in a District 11 Class 3A football semifinal Friday night, Gulyas is closing on the Pennsylvania record for career receiving yards. He needs 82 against the Timberwolves to move past Hazleton's Donald Patrick, a three-time all-state selection who finished his career in 1999 with a state-record 3,542 yards.

Should Central Catholic win a third straight District 11 3A title, Gulyas also stands an excellent chance at setting the Pennsylvania mark for career receptions. He enters this week with 207 catches, 15 from passing Seton La Salle's Carmen Connolly (221 catches from 2002-2005).

In his nine full games this season — Central Catholic played only a half against Allen in the October snowstorm — Gulyas has averaged 8.9 catches and 142.8 yards. Of course, you won't hear Gulyas talking about those numbers unless you ask him about them.

"To me, directly, he hasn't really mentioned anything," Central Catholic coach Harold Fairclough said. "I know Gulyas. I know he's well aware of it. For some kids it can be a distraction. For him I think it's more motivation. He's doing everything within our scheme and what we're asking him to do.

"I think it's a tribute to all the work he's put in the last four years. I think he should be proud of all his accomplishments."

This season Gulyas has produced the best year by any receiver in District 11 history. He has 82 catches for 1,291 yards, both District 11 single-season records. He broke marks he established as a junior last season, when he caught 78 passes for 1,282 yards during the Vikings' 16-0 run to the PIAA Class 3A title.

To appreciate how dominant Gulyas has been, look at where his numbers sat at the end of the regular season a year ago. He caught 46 passes for 646 yards and nine touchdowns in his first 10 games in 2010.

Playing in a spread offense with an elite quarterback (Brendan Nosovitch) has undoubtedly aided Gulyas' numbers. His work ethic and skill have allowed him to capitalize on the chances he receives on game day.

Fairclough praised Gulyas for finding the time to hit the weight room even while playing lacrosse. Opposing coaches have noticed the strength Gulyas added in the way he has busted tackles this season.

He also dedicated himself to improving his route-running. Last year, Fairclough said, Gulyas caught a lot of bubble screens and short passes. When a team has tried to take those throws away this year, as Emmaus did last week, Gulyas has burned opponents down field. He caught touchdown passes of 54 and 37 yards last week as part of a 10-catch, 145-yard, four-touchdown catch effort against the Green Hornets.

"He just goes and goes and goes no matter what," Emmaus coach Joe Bottiglieri said. "He's maybe not the fastest. He's maybe not the biggest. He drops the ball once in a while. But he has the ability to just put that behind him and make the big play the next play and the next play.

"I think with him, he's the prototypical coach's receiver. He makes the right moves. He listens to detail and his approach to his route is great. You can see he's very coachable and that he does the little things correctly."

Gulyas' value to the Vikings' offense this season cannot be overstated. Last year's state-title team had superior receiver depth, with tight end Shane McNeely and wide receivers Jack Sandherr and Kevin McKellick teaming with Gulyas, Jalen Snyder-Scipio and Noah Robb.

Snyder-Scipio and Robb returned along with Gulyas this year and have boosted their production. No one has taken up more of the pass-catching slack than Gulyas, despite added attention from opposing defenders. Nosovitch has thrown 19 touchdown passes this season. Gulyas has caught 17 of them.

"I think we do a nice job of not letting him sit in one spot, having him in motion and moving," Fairclough said. "It's a little bit harder to double-team guys who are moving and in motion. There's been times where he has been bracketed and beat both guys. A couple weeks ago, someone had him bracketed, he head-faked one way, faked the first guy out, cut and then faked the second guy out and beat them both. It was one of the most incredible plays I've seen a receiver make.

"It's crazy to see. Guys are double-teaming him and he still ends up with 12, 15 catches a game."

Now all that stands between Gulyas and a state record is the East Stroudsburg North defense. The Timberwolves will need an effort better than any District 11 Class 3A team has mustered over the last two years against the Vikings to stop his march toward history. He has averaged 146.7 receiving yards in his last three district playoff games.

"It really is a team effort," Gulyas said. "I can say I have 82 catches, how many yards, but I wouldn't be able to do it without the guys around me. That's what's so great about this team. "We struggled all year, but we're finally clicking."